BERTAR KARATE KAN REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

Philippine team member Niño Franco Sensei, Philippine Karatedo Federation (PKF) National Referee Council Chairman and Advocacy for the Strengthening of Karatedo (ASK) Founder/President Ramon S. Franco Shihan, and Bertar Karate Kan Founder/Chief Instructor Edilberto "Bert" A. Arcositas Sensei.

2005 is a good year for Bertar Karate Kan. It all started with its Founder/Chief Instructor Edilberto A. Arcositas Sensei undergoing a 9-day intensive training from February 3 to 12, 2005 at the Advocacy for the Strengthening of Karatedo (ASK) Hombu Dojo, Farmacia Consuelo Compound, Avenida Veteranos (formerly Imelda Avenue), Tacloban City. On the last day of his training, Arcositas Sensei was appointed by ASK Founder/President Ramon S. Franco Shihan, 6th dan black belt Philippine Karatedo Federation (PKF), as the head instructor for ASK in Bacolod City and his Bertar Karate Kan (BKK) was granted membership to the association.

To formalize its affiliation with ASK, BKK hosted Franco Shihan’s first official visit to their dojo on April 23-24, 2005 at City Gym, 2F RCBC Hilado, MFC Bldg., Hilado-Narra Sts., Capitol Shopping Center, Bacolod City for an advanced training and conference for ASK instructors and kyu ranks examinations for students. Franco Shihan was accompanied by his son Philippine team member Niño Franco.

Franco Shihan is the Chairman of the National Referee Council of the Philippine Karatedo Federation, being a holder of an Asian Karatedo Federation (AKF) Kumite Referee B License taken and passed in Tokyo, Japan and AKF kata judge B taken and passed in Genting, Malaysia. He is also director for martial arts at the Holy Spirit College Foundation in Tacloban City.

ASK is an international karate association founded on November 9, 1981 and now based in Tacloban City with branches in Bacolod, Bohol, Canada, Cebu, Iligan, Manila, Saudi Arabia, Surigao, UK, and USA.

Those who took the kyu exams and successfully passed were Agnes Rizza Ani and Anna Rita Ani (blue), Helen Cañete, John David Lizares, Michael Robin Lizares, Connie Mullion, and Stephanie Queen Uberas (purple), Larev Barroa, John Vincent Javier, Louise Angelica Parreño, and Charito Salario (orange), Julia Sarah Seballos (green), and Karen Donasco (yellow).

BKK’s rise to the top started with 18th PKF Open and National Age Group Championships held by the PKF on May 9-15, 2005 in Calamba, Laguna. There ASK Philippines was declared overall champion with a 11-8-6 medal tally. Stephanie Queen Uberas of BKK contributed a bronze to that total (kumite 48 kg.) in her first outing in a nationally sanctioned tournament. Her teammate John David Lizares won 3 bouts but had to bow out in the fourth on the way to a bronze medal.

During the 5th USLS Martial Arts Expo “The Rise of the Renaissance Warriors” (a.k.a. 1st USLS Martial Arts Tournament: Martial Arts Redefined) held on September 8, 2005 at the USLS College Covered Court, University of St. La Salle, La Salle Avenue, Bacolod City, BKK was crowned champion in the karate-do division, winning 2 of 3 bouts fought.

Then on September 24-25, 2005 the BKK Team brought home 2 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze medals in the Mayor Thadeo Ouano Pre SEA Games National Invitational Karatedo Championships held by the PKF Cebu Chapter in Mandaue City, Cebu.

Stephanie Queen Uberas snatched 3 medals for the Bacolod based Bertar Karate Kan. She was crowned champion in the kumite juniors 48 kg. division and got the silver in the kata women’s senior category and the bronze in kata women’s junior class. Meanwhile, John David Lizares topped the kumite cadet category and took bronze in the kata boys division.

Other competitors from Bertar Karate Kan were Charity Salario and Helen Cañete. Mario Lizares was the manager. Mary Ver Cordova and Marianne Sioson were support delegates.

During the tournament, Bertar Karate Kan was officially recognized by the Philippine Karatedo Federation as a member through the sponsorship of ASK. With the present success of BKK, it will surely continue to rise and keep the flame of karate-do in Bacolod alive for years to come.